Words and pictures from the author of the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Working on the List

I have a huge, multi-headed list of Things That Need To Be Done Around Here and one of those things was to re-pot all my potted plants. It sounds a lady-like occupation that might involve a pot or two of ferns or African violets but the truth is otherwise. Some of my potted plants are twenty or even thirty years old and some are too heavy for me to lift.

Justin brought me this nice load of composted manure from our pastureand John helped to haul out the large ficus trees and the junipers from our deck. Everything got the treatment, from this rosemary to the huge bay bush to the calamondin and, yes, some ferns.

This rosemary isn't nearly so rootbound as some poor junipers that had been in the same pots for six years. I hacked and root-pruned mercilessly -- I just hope they all survive the treatment. I think they'll enjoy being able to stretch out a bit in this lovely new soil.

And speaking of lists, this quote from Robert Heinlein caught my eye when I was reading the weekly compendium of comments on A Word a Day.

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

Dang!

That's a pretty long list. I might manage a dozen -- and I know that John could do some that I couldn't.

But plan an invasion? Hmmm. I'll have to work on that. Right after I learn how to program a computer and fight efficiently.

Good grief...when you said repot flowers I was thinking as you said, a quaint little peaceful time of potting some violets or something! ha.... That sounds like some big undertaking, but I'm sure the feeling of having it done is wonderful. As for that list of what a person should be able to do...it puts my little 'to do' list to shame! ha.... Tammy

I could manage ten of the things on that list.Good luck with the repotting. Just before I came over here, Jim and I had to repot the camellia, which was potbound. It took all morning to get it out of the plastic tub it was in and in the end, it was the total destruction method. The poor plant was so shocked, it keeled over the ground and trembled as Jim took the axe to the pot. Finally, we got it into its new location and I haven't seen it since, so I don't know if it's thriving or not!Blessings, Star

Lists. They are always there. Waiting for our attention. I thought when I retired I would have lots of extra time but my list tells me differently. Good post. You sure have lots of potting to do -- think great exercise for your muscles if that helps. -- barbara

Whoa! That's some serious re-potting you did. I hope all the plants will thrive in their new homes.

As for the list...well, I've done some of the things, and I think perhaps I could do most of the other things...except program a computer. I think trying that might just cause me to die a not-so-gallant death!

That's a big work you did indeed but I am sure your plants will be delighted ....I have too some list of things to be done especially in the garden .. so I will leave you now.Thank you for your regular kind comments.I wish you a nice week

Victoria -- the plants look happier already! Yeah, I'm about as computer literate as I'm gonna be -- programming is SO not in my future.

Helene -- this is the time for the garden, isn't it? Before it gets too hot...

Your mom is a good person. I was embarrassed to find that a Christmas cactus we brought from Florida (we were given it on the birth of our first child in '72) still had that characteristic Florida sandy dirt around its roots. I'd moved it to a larger pot at some time but not really replace the dirt in the root ball.

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2015

September 15 (First meeting) 6-8:30 pm at the Riverlink offices in Asheville.

Forty Pages -- a class through the Great Smokies Writing Program on UNC-Asheville

This ten session workshop is for those writers with a novel in progress, almost completed, or completed but in need of a final polish. Each student will submit forty pages (half at the beginning of the course, the rest during the sixth week) of his work in progress for discussion and critique by the class and close editing with written comments by the instructor. We will focus on the effective use of key techniques such as creating an intriguing opening line and compelling chapters, creating a likable and/or engaging protagonist, weaving in back story in small, manageable doses, writing realistic dialogue, setting up a dilemma that begs to be resolved, making the most of each scene and, in general, producing a page-turner. We will attempt to weed out the mistakes that mark the amateur writer and turn each student into a discerning editor of his own work. The suggested text is the highly acclaimed Don't Sabotage Your Submission by career manuscript editor Chris Roerden (Bella Rosa books --ISBN 978-1-933523-31-6.) LINK TO COME.

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Who Am I? What Am I Doing Here?

I'm the author of The Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries from Bantam Dell. The series includes SIGNS IN THE BLOOD (LA MONTAGNE DES SECRETS in France), ART'S BLOOD, (LE SECRET DES APPALACHES in France,) OLD WOUNDS,IN A DARK SEASON (Anthony Nominee, Best PBO), and UNDER THE SKIN. There's also THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS (a spinoff/standalone)chronicling the unexpected life story of Miss Birdie, one of Elizabeth's neighbors.
Currently I am at work on a historical novel, dealing with a massacre in my county during the Civil War.
I came to this weird business late (my first novel was published in 2005) and am still trying to figure it out.
As my novels are set in a place much like my real life home, I thought I'd use this blog to share pictures of our farm and county. I've been blogging for nearly seven years now, on an almost daily basis, and the topics have ranged from writing, chickens, food, books, quilts, flora and fauna of all sorts, to the occasional tiny rant. There's no plan, but there are lots of pictures.
There's more information about me and my books on my web site: http://vickilanemysteries.com/